The Jewish Experience in Central Europe

Syllabus

Instructor: Linda Stucbartova

Course goals: The course will provide an inside look at Jewish history in the Czech lands, it will explore the subject from different aspects of view ? legends, traditions, religion, art, philosophy and history. The impact given on ?experience? will mean that students will have an opportunity to explore themselves on several field trips all different features and characteristics of Jewish life and presence ? both in the past and in present times. The course will consist of lectures from notable speakers and several field trips. Students are expected to read assigned reading prior to the class. Students are expected to actively participate in discussions.

Requirements: Participation in seminar discussions and 90 per cent attendance. A presentation on one of the topics presented. Final paper 6-8 pages on a topic related to the course according to own selection, the topic must be discussed with the instructor in advance. Deadline for essay: 27.7. 9 am. Late submissions will influence the grade!!! Required reading: A reader will be provided for the students. During the course, students might receive additional materials.

Other comments: Students are welcome to discuss any issues with the instructor, they can make an appointment.

Calendar

1. 20.6. Introduction to the course, outline, requirements Introduction to Jewish Religion and Traditions I. ? Eva Ku?elov?, Jewish Museum in Prague

2. 22.6. Introduction to Jewish Religion and Traditions II. ? Eva Ku?elov?, Jewish Museum in Prague visit of the temporary exhibition in the Museum of Prague The exhibition Prague ghetto in pictures wants to present the most important artistic pieces ? paintings, pictures, graphics ? to prove the long lasting interest of Prague artists in Jewish Town, that peaked during its reconstruction on the turn of the century. It should evoke political atmosphere of former Josefov quarter and to introduce less known artists. The long lasting interest of Prague artist in the environment of the Prague ghetto is unique and with the exception of Amsterdam was not equal to any other Jewish town in Europe. The exhibition aims to prove the cultural importance of Jewish town and to remind of the asanation process (the clearance) that led to founding of the Jewish museum in Prague 100 years ago.

3. 27.6. Jewish Religion and Traditions in Central Europe visit to Pilsen ? longer class due to travel!!! The second largest synagogue in Europe, the third largest in the world. Since 1894, it is one of the dominant monuments of Pilsen, where very populous and prosperous Jewish community lived until the beginning of world war II. The synagogue features unique organs as well as the heating.

4. 29.6. History and Legends and guided visit of the Jewish Museum and Its Collections ? Zde?ka Gabalov?, Jewish Museum in Prague lecture will take place at the Educational and Cultural Center of the Jewish Museum in Prague

5. 4.7. The Holocaust ? M. Frankl , Terezin Initiative Institute

6. 11.7. Visit to Terezin On the initiative of the newly created Czechoslovak government, in 1947 the National Suffering Memorial was opened on the site of the suffering of tens of thousands; it was later on renamed the Terezin Memorial. The key mission of the Terezin Memorial, the only institution of its kind in the Czech Republic, is to commemorate the victims of the Nazi political and racial persecution during the occupation of the Czech lands in World War II, to promote museum, research and educational activities, and look after the memorial sites connected with the suffering and death of dozens of thousands of victims of violence. Location: The town lies 3km south of Litom??ice on the river Labe (Elbe) in northern Bohemia; the Small Fortress lies 1km east of the town.

7. 13.7. Jewish Philosophy ? speaker to be confirmed presentations

8. 18.7. Jewish Displaced Persons in the Allied Politics ? L. Stucbartova presentations

9. 20.7. Czechoslovakia and Israel ? from friends to enemies and back ? J. Schneider, former ambassador to Israel, Political Director of the MFA presentations

10. 25.7. Judaism During Communism ? Tomas Kraus presentations

11. 27.7. Contemporary Central European Judaism ? Tomas Kraus

AAC students - one missed class will be compensated for during the fieldtrips that will last longer Students will be provided reading package during the first class. They are expected to read appropriate materials prior to the class. Special books for presentations are available from the instructor.

Literature (Reader):

Yehuda Bauer: Out of the Ashes, The Impact of American Jews on Post-Holocaust European Jewry, Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1989

Richard Burton: Prague, A Cultural History, Northampton: Interlink, 2003 ? selected chapters

Martin Gilbert: Israel- A History, London: Black Swan, 1998 ? selected chapters

Eva Kos?kov?: Dictionary of Judaica, Prague: Jewish Museum, 2005

Ctibor Ryb?r: Jewish Prague, Guide to the Monuments, Most: Spektrum, 1991 ? selected chapters

Jewish Fairytales and Legends, Prague: Vitalis, 2005 ? 2 stories

Books for background information (available from the instructor):

Hillel J. Kieval: Languages of Community, The Jewish Experience in the Czech lands, Berkeley, University of California Press, 2000

Ivan Margolius: Relfections on Prague, Journeys through the 20th Century, Chichester: Wiley, 2006

Other recommended literature: (good bookstore for judaica ? the Old Town Square, near the house At the stone bell, Franz Kafka bookshop)

Michael A. Fishbane: Judaism. Revelation and Traditions, San Francisco: Harper, 1987

In Czech: Michael A. Fishbane: Judaismus, Zjeven? a tradice, Praha: Prostor, 1996

Paul Johnson: A History of the Jews, Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2003

Gustav Meyring: The Golem, Prague: Vitalis, 2005

Rainer M. Rilke: Two Prague Stories, Prague: Vitalis, 2005

Harald Salfellner: Franz Kafka and Prague, Prague: Vitalis, 2005

Hana Volavkov?, Pavel B?lina: The Lost Jewish Town of Prague, Prague, Paseka: 2004